Ex-principal files age bias complaint against Southbridge district

Brian Lee TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Published Sunday March 3, 2013 at 6:00 am

Updated Sunday March 3, 2013 at 10:30 am

Former high school Principal William K. Bishop said he has filed a formal complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination against the school district, alleging he lost his job due to age discrimination.

The 57-year-old Mr. Bishop saw his job “abolished” this summer, on the eve of the district opening a new middle-high school on Torrey Road.

School Committee Chairwoman Patricia Woodruff confirmed MCAD notified the district of the complaint on or about Feb. 15.

Mr. Bishop said MCAD notified him that this would be an expedited case.

The state agency gave the district 21 days to respond to his charge, which Mr. Bishop said he issued about a month ago.

Mr. Bishop said he then gets 21 days to respond to the district.

The case hearing is set for May 1 in Worcester.

Asked what he was seeking, Mr. Bishop said: “We're going to see what the person who sees the case thinks is appropriate.”

Ms. Woodruff said a Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association lawyer is handling the case for the district, and the School Committee will discuss the matter in executive session March 12.

“I was surprised to receive this information, but the way things have been going this year, why not put something else on our plate?” Ms. Woodruff said in a statement.

On July 24, the School Committee voted, 4-3, to endorse then-Superintendent Eric D. Ely's plan to eliminate middle and high school principal jobs.

A week later, Mr. Ely named district math director Tammy M. Perreault principal of the new middle-high school, which opened to students Sept. 4.

It was Ms. Perreault's first principal's position. Her age could not be confirmed.

Ms. Perreault was placed on paid administrative leave Dec. 21. The district did not give a reason for her departure.

At the time of Ms. Perreault's appointment, she held only a license to be a principal in Grades 5-8. Though she had qualifications to be a licensed principal for high school students, she did not submit the paperwork until a week after the appointment.

Mr. Bishop said in an interview he was certified with the state to be a principal in Grades 5-12 at the time Mr. Ely decided what to do about the new combined schools' administrative team.

He had served five years as high school principal and worked 32 years in the district, including 11 as a middle school teacher, 15 as a high school teacher and a year as an assistant principal.

“Anybody that knew what went on would have to make the reasonable conclusion that I certainly wasn't treated appropriately,” Mr. Bishop said.

At the time, Mr. Ely also promoted Amy B. Allen from middle school principal to district director of curriculum, instruction and assessment.

But Mr. Ely had refused to tell the Telegram & Gazette at the time if Mr. Bishop had been offered a job.

The decision to employ just one principal for the combined school drew harsh criticism from three of seven School Committee members. A motion to fire Mr. Ely in August failed, 4-3.

In addition to Ms. Perreault's departure, there have been numerous administrative personnel changes this year.

Mr. Ely resigned Jan. 25, after he had been placed on paid administrative leave in November pending the outcome of an investigation of a district employee's complaint of misconduct.

The district says the matter has not been finalized.

Meanwhile, Terry L. Wiggin, the district's director of finance and operations who served six weeks as acting superintendent, resigned. His last day was Friday.